PROTESTS have taken place in Australia against the detention of a former Halton Hospital doctor.

Dr Mohamed Haneef, who worked in Halton in 2005, is charged with providing support to a terrorist org anisation.

He is accused of giving his mobile phone SIM card to fellow Halton Hospital employee Dr Sabeel Ahmed when he moved to Australia in July 2006.

A court granted him bail but the Australian government sought to keep him in custody by cancelling his visa. He is isolated from other prisoners and is only allowed out of his cell for one hour a day.

A rally organised by Haneef 's legal team was held outside the Immigration Department's buildings in Brisbane this week.

A relative of Haneef also arrived in Australia from Bangalore.

His family have pleaded with Australian authorities to give him a fair hearing.

Dr Ahmed, 26, who worked at Halton until he was arrested on June 30, is in custody after being charged with possessing information which could have prevented an act of terrorism. His lawyers have indicated he will deny the charge.